Device, more particularly manifold writing device for issuing tickets or the like



D. BLACK Er AL DEVICE, MOREPARTICULABLY MANIFOLD WRITING Nw. 17, 193s.H,

DEVICE`FOR ISSUING TICKETS OR THE LIKE Eiled Sept. l0, 1934 5SheetS-Sheec l TH. D. BLACK E-r AL DEVICE, MORE PARTICULARLY MANIFOLDWRITING DEVICE FOR ISSUING TICKETS OR THE LIKE Nov. Y1v',v 1936.

5 Sheets-Sheet 2 www@ y ZL-me Filed Sept. l0, 1934 NOV- 17, 1936. H. D.BLACK ET' AL 2,060,922

' DEVICE, MORE PARTICULARLY MANIFOLD WRITING y DEVICE FOR ISSUINGTICKETS OR THE LIKE Filed Sept. l0, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Nov. 17, 1936.

. H. D. BLACKl x-:r AL, ZGSw-f DEVICE. MORE PARTICULARLY MANIFOLDWRITING DEVICE FOR ISSUING TICKETS OR'THE LIKE Filed Sept. l0, 1934 5Shee'S-lle; 4

Nov. 17,1936.

LACK ETAL I 2,060,922

D. B DEVICE, MORE PARTICULARLY MANIFOLD WRITING DEVICE FOR ISSUINGTICKETS OR THE LIKE Fle'd Sept. l0, 1934 n '5 Sheets-Sheet` 5 @WWM @Wwf

Patented Nev. 11,1936

, UNITED STATES DEVICE, MORE PARTICULARLY MANIFOLD WRITING DEVICE FORISSUING TICKETS OR THE LIKE Horace Drummond Black, London, andChristopher Frederick Webb, Eastcote, England, as-

signors to Bell Punch don, England Application In 18 Claims.

This invention is for improvements in or relating to devices moreparticularly to manifold writing devices for issuing tickets, bills,receipts and the like (hereinafter referred to as tickets) upon whichcertain data is inscribed by'the operator prior to issue, and in whichit is usual for one or more copies to be recorded upon one or moresuperimposed duplicate forms, and in which, if. necessary, oneduplicated form is retained in the device for the purpose of identifyingand checking transactions made by means of the device. In such devicesthe tickets are arranged in the form of 'a fan-fold strip or roll in amagazine contained in the machine, and are fed forwardly and deliveredexternally to the device one at a time with each operation of the deviceusually by pin feed mechanism.

The device which constitutes the subject matter of this invention is ofthe type wherein the tickets or the like are arranged in the form ofasingle strip or two or more superimposed strips in a magazine and arefed by means of a pin wheel or the like engaging with perforations'inthe strip so as to feed at least one ticket from the strip, or from eachof the two or more superimposed strips upon each actuation of thedevice.

According to the present invention there is provided a device of thetype referred to, wherein means arranged to feed the ticket stripthrough the device is actuated by a yieldingly controlled mechanismwhich is automatically released by a trigger action to feed a ticketfrom the device.

Again, according to the invention there is provided a device of the typereferred to, wherein means arranged to feed the ticket strip forwardlythrough the device is operable by a mechanism which is arranged to bemoved in one direction against the tension of a spring by a manually.operable trigger device and is arranged to be released automaticallytherefrom, after the said trigger device has been displaced apredetermined distance, to move under the action of the spring in thereverse direction and thereby cause the ticket strip to be fed forwardlythrough the device.

The invention will bemore particularly ydescribed with reference to theaccompanying drawings in which:

l Figure 1 illustrates a front elevation of the device with the cover ofa casing in section;

Figure 2 illustrates a side elevation of the device with the side of thecover of the casing cut away; y

Figure 3 illustrates a front elevation of the Company Limited, Lon-September 10, 1934, Serial No. 743,470 Great Britain March 5, 1934device with the cover of the casing and a cover plate for the actuatingmechanism removed;

Figure 4 is a plan view of the device;

Figure 5 illustrates a portion of the actuating mechanism shown inFigure 3 but in a different position;

Figure 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Figure 2 and illustrates adetail of the mechanism shown in Figure 1;

Figure 'l illustrates diagrammatically a modiiication of a portion ofthe actuating mechanism,

and 1 Figure 8 illustrates diagrammatically a further modification of aportion of the actuating mechanism.

Referring to Figures 1 to 6 of the drawings,l a cover I of a casing of amanifold writingdevice is illustrated as hinged to a base plate 2 bymeans of a hinge 3. The cover I is provided on the exterior thereof witha ticket punching device A known per se and anactuating hand lever 5which is connected 'by means of a spindle 6 to actuating mechanismdisposed on the base plate 2. A cover plate l is arranged to protect theactuating mechanism shown in Figure 3 and is provided with a verticalpartition 8 which divides the space between the plate 1 and the innerside of the cover I into two compartments.

A series of tickets arranged in a strip are disposed in a fan foldedmanner within vthe right hand compartment (Figure 1) together with aduplicated strip therefor. The superimposed strips are fed over a roller9, around a drum II between the latter and a guide I0, and thereafterover a platen I3 preferably provided with a milled surface. Thesuperimposed strips are fed over the platen in such a manner that astripof carbon paper or inked fabric I4 is disposed between the ticket andthe duplicate strip. Consequently any inscription made upon the ticketto be issued which is accessible for this purpose through an opening I5in the casing, is duplicated upon the strip of duplicating paper whichis thereafter fed by a drum I2 and guide 16 into the left handcompartment (Figure l) and folded in a fan-like manner, whilst thetickets are issued from the device through a slot I6 in a side Wall ofthe casing I.

The drumv Il which is arranged to engage respectively through the mediumof pins I l with the ticket strip and the duplicating strip so as tofeed the ticket and the duplicating strip over the platen I3, and thedrum I2 which is arranged to receive only the duplicating strip and feedthe same into the left hand compartment also by the means of pins I9disposed upon the said drum, are driven respectively from a Maltesewheel I9, the periphery of which is toothed to mesh with a pinion wheel20 and with two pinion wheels 2| and 22 which are secured on the shaftsof the pin drums II and I2 above referred to. wheel I9 is arranged to'beengaged by a pin wheel 29 operated in a manner hereinafter described soas to rotate the Maltese wheel I9 through an angle of 60 upon eachactuation of the pin wheel the rotation of the Maltese 'wheel I9effecting throughthe intermediary of the plnions 2| and .22a halfrevolution to each of the drums II and i2. The pairs of pins I1 and I9are diametrically opposed on the drums I I and I2 and consequently thehalf revolution of each of the latter feeds the length ofone ticketthrough the device.

The pin wheel 22 is operated by a trigger mechanism which comprises ahook shaped lever 24 arranged to pivot about a pin 32 disposed in anextension of a lever 26. 'I'he hook shaped lever 24 is capable ofmovement in a direction parallel to the lever 26 due to the provision ofa slot therein which` accommodates the pin 32. The lever 26 is pivotedat 25 and carries at the outer end thereof a roller 21 arranged toengage with the leading end of the hook shaped lever 24 so that themovement of the lever 26 in an anti-clockwise direction moves the hookshaped lever 24 also in an anti-clockwise direction until a nose 2B.formed on the leading end of the said hook shaped lever 24 engages witha pin 29 and is thereby moved in a radial direction so as to bedisengaged from the roller 21 -carried on the said lever 26. The hookshaped lever 24 is then returned to the normal position thereof by aspring 30 operatively connected thereto. The lever 26 is arranged Vto berotated by means oi the hand lever 5 (Figures 1,` 2, or 4) located onthe outside of the casing I and connected to the lever 26 by means ofthe spindle 6. The hook shaped lever 24 is provided at the-free endthereof with a surface 24a which as the lever 26 Ais moved from theinitial to the loaded position rides over the surface of a pin 22acarried on the pin` wheel 23, thereby malntaining the pin wheel in adefinite position, but when the nose 29 of the leading end o! the lever24 engages with the fixed pin 29, the surface 24a of the lever 24 hasymoved clear of the pin 22a on the pin wheel 22 and consequently themovement of the hooked lever 24 in a radial direction takes placewithout engagement with the pin 23a of the pin wheel 22. The hookedlever 24 is displaced radially to the positionshown in Figure 5 landwhen this lever is released by the nose 29 passing beyond the end oi.the roller 21- it engages with the pin 22a on the pin wheel 22 andthereby car ries the pin wheel 22 with it and rotates the same throughan angle of The rotation oi the pin wheel 22 through an angle of 120causes the Maltese wheel I9 to move through an angle oi' 60 and, ashereinbei'ore stated, the Maltese wheel I 9 thereby effects a halfrevolution of each of the drums II and I2 arranged to i'eed the ticketand vthe duplicating strip over the platen l2 and also the duplicatingstrip into the left hand compartment. i i

The lever 26 which is operable to move the hook shaped lever 24 from thenormal to the rotated position may be provided at the outer end thereofwith a yielding head piece so as to enable the said lever 26 whenreturned under the influence of a spring 24 to the initial position uponthe release of the handle 5, to snap under the nose 28 on the lever 24so that .it is thus eet in The Maltese position in readiness for thedevice to be actuated again. In the arrangement shown however, when thelever 26 restores under the action of the spring 24, the nose 26 ridesup against the tension of the spring 20 until the roller 21 is restoredto the position shown in Figure 3 and then returns under the action ofthe spring III to the position shown inFigure 3. An arm 25 is providedon the hook shaped lever 24 and this engages the stop 26` on the returnmotion `oi the lever and thus limits the degree of movement of thelatter.

The pinion 2U hereinbeiore referred to which makes one completerevolution for every revolution oi' 60 bythe Maltese wheel I9,oscillates an arm connected to a striker 21 which strikes the gong 22,the gong thus being sounded every time the Maltese wheel is rotated toissue a ticket.

A locking device operable from the exterior of the casing is providedfor the purpose oi' rendering the machine inoperative when so desired.'I'his locking device comprises a bar 29 pivoted on a further bar 4I)which latter is pivoted on the base plate 2 -of the machine by means oi'the pivot pin 4i. The end of the bar 4I) adjacent the pivot 4I is curvedso as not to interfere with the pinion 20. The bar 39 is arranged to bemoved in a l direction towards Athe pin 29 by means of a projection 42o`n a plate 42, which projection engages with a slot in the bar 99. Theplate 42 is rotated by a pin, not shown, which projects through the backwall of the casing of the machine and moves in an arcuate slot. Theplate 43 is spring urged to the position shown in Figure 3 but when thisplate is rotated, a pin 44a carried on a plate spring 44 riveted to theplate 42 enters the hole 45 (Figure 1) in the cover plate 1 and preventsthe restoration of the plate 42. The plate 42 is released by inserting ashaft pointed instrument in the hole 45 and releasing the pin 44a. 'I'heplate 42 and the bar 29 are then restored under spring control to theposition shown in Figure 3. The bar 29 is provided at the free endthereof with a pin 46 which when the bar is in an operated position islocated in the path of the nose 22. As the bar 39 is ilush against theside wall o! the cov'er I, it consequently cannot rotate about its pivotand hence the pin 46 prevents thenose 22 moving to the extreme operativeposition when the lever 26 is rotated. The nose 22 oi the lever 24 isnot released from the roller 21 and the Maltese wheelv I9 is notactuated.

In the modification of the present invention. illustrated in Figure 7,the Maltese wheel -I2 is replaced by a star wheel 46 having three teetheach separated by an angle of 120".` The star wheel 46 is arranged to beengaged by a rod 4I which moves longitudinally and is provided at thefree end thereof with two rollers 59 and 5I. The roller 5I is arrangedto engage with a guide block 52 which governs the path of movement oithe rod 49 and the other roller 52 is arranged to engage with the freeend of one of the teeth of the star wheel 42 in a manner hereinafterspecined. At the end of the rod 42 remote from the star wheel 49 thesame is connected by means of a pivotal` link 52 with a second link 54pivotally connected to a lever 55 arranged to be operated by theexterior hand lever 5 of the device. The rod 42 is provided at thepivoted end thereof with a depression 56 wherein the end of the pivotallink 52 is normally held by means oi' a spring 51, connected to thepivotal link 54 and the lever 56, which normally tends to press the endoi the pivotal link 52 into the said depression. The rod 42 ismaintained in the inoperative position by means of a tension spring 59and the pivoted end of the said rod 49 is shaped so as to roll over aneccentric 59 secured to the base plate 2 of the device for a purposehereinafter specified. I The operation of the device is as follows: Whenthe lever 55 connected to the hand lever 5 of the device is moved in ananti-clockwise direction, the pivotal link 54 presses the pivotal link53v against, the depression 56 inthe rod 49 and at the same time movesthe rod 49 in a longitudinal direction away from the teeth of the starwheel v45 in a downward direction. The rod 49 in so moving is guided inits course by a pin 60 on the base plate 2 and the guide block 52 untilthe pivotal axes of the two pivotal links 53 and 54 are in line,whereupon the lower end of the rod 49 engages with the eccentric 59 soas to bring the pivotal connection, between the two pivotal links Abelowthe line joining the other two pivotal axes of the two pivotal links,thus releasing the rod 49 and permitting it to move upwardly under the Itension of the spring 58 so that the roller 50 on the free end thereofengages with the next tooth of the star wheel 48 and'moves it through120. In order to prevent the star wheel from being moved as the rod 49is being moved downwardly the star wheel 48 is provided with a pawl 6Iwhich 'arrests the movement thereof after the rod 49 has ceased tooperate and holds it in a position which, when the rod 49 is released,ensures that the free end of the latter engages with the nextAsucceeding tooth of the wheel 48.

A modification of the device just which is illustrated' in Figure.8,consists in a hook shaped lever 52 being connected to a hand operatedlever substantiallysimilar in construction and operation to the lever 5previously described, the hook 63 of the lever 62 being arranged toengage with a hook 64 formed on the end of the rod 49 above referred to.T'he movement of the rod 49 is controlled by a trunnion block 61arranged to slide in a groove formed in the base plate 2 of the devicein such a manner that when the hooked lever 62 has been moved apredetermined distance, the trunnion block 61 on the rod 49' causes thetwo hooked projections 63 and 64 to move out of engagement with oneanother and release the rod 49 so that it engages with the next lever 62is provided with a pivoted free end 69 arranged to yield against theinfluence of a spring 19 when the hand leverlis returned to the normalposition thereby permitting the hooked shaped ends 85 and 64 of thelever 62 to engage once more with one another.

It is to be understood that although the Maltese wheel and the starwheels hereinbefore referred to have been described as being connectedthrough the medium of pinion wheels 2l and 22 with the feed drums II andI2 of the ticket mechanism, it is to be understood that the Maltesewheel I9 and the star wheels 48 may be @directly connected to saiddrums.

describe'df',

the drum, and the other arm of which is arranged to extend into the pathover which the duplicated strip is fed. The lever 12 is spring urged bymeans of a spring 14 so that during one half of a revolution of the drumI2 the arm 13 of the lever 12 extends into the interior of the drum I2through the slot 1I thus allowing the other arm to lie substantiallytangentially to the surface of the drum I2 and thereby permitting thefeed 4of the duplicated strip in one direction. For the remaining halfrevolution of the drum no slot occurs and the arm 13 of the lever isdisplaced by the surface of the drum I2 against the influence of thespring 14 so as tobring the second arm of the lever-12 into asubstantially radial position, where the duplicated strip is deflectedin a direction at right angles to the normal direction of the strip. Itis found that with a simple arrangement of this character, theduplicated strip is fed in a fan-folded manner into the left handcompartment of the device.

Thus, it will be seen `that with the trigger mechanism hereinbeforereferred to which is loaded through the medium 'of the handle 5 disposedon .the exterior of the device, an operator can only actuate thisexterior handle 5 so as to load the trigger mechanism for actuation butthe actual actuation and feeding of the ticket strip through the deviceis thereafter completely outof the operators control as this is effectedsolely upon the release of. the trigger mechanism once ithas been moveda predetermined distance,

thus ensuring that the operator cannot manipulatively interfere with theticket feed mechanism. Again due to the fact that the ticket feed isoperated by a trigger mechanism, the operator can tear off the ticketwhich has been issued from the device Whilst the exterior handle 5 isbeing returned to the initial position and thus it will be seen that thedevice can be operated much more rapidly than if the feeding of theticket through the device was dependent upon the operator alone andrequired the operator to move the handle both from the initial positionto the operative position and back again.

It is obvious that thedevice can be used as a simple ticket issijngmachine without necessarily employing the, plicate retaining facilitiesdescribed.

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is:- l

l. A strip ticket issuing machine comprising a ticket strip supplymagazine adapted to accominodate a supply of. at least one ticket strip,a feeding device for the strip provided with means arranged to engagewith perforations in the strip so as to feed said strip forwardly atleast one ticket length upon each vactuation of the machine, a pivotedlever manual means for displacingsaid lever in one direction, a secondlever operable under spring control to actuate said feeding device andpivotally connected at one end thereof to the said pivoted lever, a hookshaped lever disposed on the other end of said second lever which isarranged to engage with the free end of. the said pivoted lever so thatthe two levers are rotated together during the initial displacement inthe said direction of the pivoted lever and means for releasing thesaidA hook shaped projection from the free endof the pivoted leverduring the displacement of the latter so that the second lever is freetorotate under spring control and actuate the feeding device.

2. A strip ticket issuing machine comprising a ticket strip supplymagazine adapted to accommodate a supply of at least one ticket strip, afeeding device for the strip provided with means arranged to engage withperforations in the strip so as to feed said strip forwardly at leastone ticket length upon each actuation of the machine, a pivoted levermanual meanslor displacing said lever in one direction, a second leveroperable under spring control to actuate said feeding device andpivotally and slidably connected at one end thereof to the said pivotedlever, a hook shaped projection disposed on the other end of said secondlever which is arranged to engage with the free end of the said pivotedlever so that the two levers are rotated together during the initialdisplacement in the said direction of the pivoted lever, a nose on saidhook shaped projection, and a stationary pin, fixed relatively to themachine, which is arranged to engage with the said nose during thedisplacement of the pivoted lever andcause the said nose to ride up sothat the hook shaped projection is released from the free end of thepivoted lever and the said section lever is free to rotate under springcontrol and actuate the feeding device.

3. A strip ticket issuing machine comprising a ticket strip supplymagazine adapted to accommodate a supply of at least one ticket strip, apin wheel, a radially slotted Wheel operable by -said pin wheel by theslots therein being engaged by the pins of the pin wheel, two feedingdrums Y .ed to accommodates supply of at least two superimposed ticketstrips, a feeding mechanism for the strip provided with means arrangedto engage with perforations in the strips so as to feed each of saidstrirqgforwardly at least one ticket length upon each actuation of thedevice. means for feeding at least one strip to the interior of themachine and at least one strip to the exterior of the machine, anormally ineffective spring Vmeans operatively connecting the spring tothe feeding mechanism to actuate the latter, and trigger mechanismoperable to load saldspring and `thereby render it effective to actuatethe feeding device when fullyloaded to release it.

5. A manifold` writing device for issuing tickets comprising a ticketstrip supply magazine adapted to accommodate a supply of at least twosuperimposed ticket strips, a pin wheel, a vradially slotted wheeloperable by said pin wheel by the slots therein being engaged by thepins of the pin wheel, two feeding drums provided with projectionsarranged to engage with perforations in the strips and operable by saidradially slotted wheel so as to feed each of'said strips forwardly atleast one tlcket length upon each actuation of the machine, one of saiddrums having associated therewith means for feeding at least one stripto the interior of the machine and at least one aooamza` strip to theexterior of the machine, a normally ineffective spring means operativelyconnecting the spring to -thepin wheel for actuating the latter andtrigger mechanism operable to loeid said spring and thereby render iteffective to actuate said pin wheel and when fully loadedA to releaseit.

6. A strip ticket issuing machine comprising e ticket strip supplymagazine adapted to accommodate a supply of at least one ticket strip. afeeding device provided with'means arranged to engage with perforationsin the strip so as to feed said strip forwardly at least one ticketlength upon each actuation of the machine, a normally ineffective springmeans operatively connecting the spring to the feeding device to actuatethe latter, a pivoted lever arranged to be rotated under manual control,a rodconnected to said spring and arranged to be displacedlongitudinally by said pivoted lever for the purpose of tensioning thesaid spring, linkwork connecting said p rod and pivoted lever, and meansfor rendering said linkwork effective during the rotation of the leverto allow automatically the restoration of the rod and enable the springto become effective to drive said feeding device.

'l. A strip ticket issuing machine comprising a ticket strip supplymagazine adapted to ec normally ineffective spring means operativelyconnecting the spring of the feeding device to actuate the latter, apivoted lever arranged t0 be rotated under manual control, a hook shapedprojection on the free end of said lever, a rod connected to saidspring, a hook shaped projection on one end of said rod arranged toengage withthe hook shaped projection on the free end of the lever sothat the rod is dispiaceable longitudinally against the tension of thespring when the lever is rotated, and means for automatical- 1ydisengaging said hook shaped projections during the rotation of thelever so that the rod restores and the spring becomes elective to drivesaid feeding device.

s. A strip ticket issuing machine comprising a ticket strip supplymagazine adapted to accommodate a supply of at least one ticket strip, afeeding device provided with means arranged to engage with perforationsin the strip so as to feed said strip forwardly at least one ticketlength upon each actuation of the machine, a pivoted lever arranged tobe rotated under manual oontrol, a normally ineffective spring, a rodarranged to actuate said feeding device, connected to seid spring anddisplaceable longitudinally by said pivoted lever against the tension ofthe spring. linkwork connecting said rod and pivoted lever, means forrendering said linkwork en'ective` during the rotation of the lever toallow automatically the restoration of the rod, a guide block forguiding the rod during the longitudinal movement thereof. a star wheeloperatively connected to said feeding device, and a roller disposed onthe free end of said rod arranged to engage with said star wheel andeffect rotation thereof upon the restoration of said rod, yfor thepurpose of actuating said feeding device.

9. A strip ticket 'issuing machine comprising a ticket strip supplymagazine adapted to accommodate a supply of at least one ticket strip, a

feeding'device provided with means arranged to 7l' engage withperforations in the strip so as to feed said strip forwardly at leastone ticket length upon each actuation of the machine, a pivoted leverarranged to be rotated under manual control, a hook shaped projection onthe free end of said lever, a normally ineffective spring, a rodconnected to said spring, a hook shaped projection on one end of saidrod arranged to engage with the hook shaped projection on the free endof the lever so that the rod is displaceable longltudinally against thetension of the spring when the lever is rotated, a guide block forguiding the rod during the longitudinal movement thereof and forautomatically disengaging said hook shaped projections during therotation of the lever so that the rod restores, a'star wheel operativelyconnected to said feeding device and a roller disposed on the free endof said rod arranged to engage with said star wheel and effect rotationthereof upon the restoration of said rod, for the purpose of actuatingsaid feeding device. 10. A strip ticketV issuing machine comprising aticket strip supply magazine adapted to accommodate a supply of at leastone ticket strip,

means normally inaccessible from the exterior of the machine for feedingforwardly from the,

supply of strip at least one ticket length thereof at each actuation ofthe machine, and yieldingly controlled trigger operated drivingmechanism for said feeding means operable from the exterior of themachine. Y

1l. A strip ticket, issuing machine comprising a ticketA strip supplymagazine adapted to accommodate a supply of at least one ticket strip,means normally inaccessible from the exterior of the machine for feedingforwardly from the supply of strip at least one ticket length thereof ateach actuation of themachine, a normally ineffective spring meansoperatively connecting the spring to the feedlng means to actuate thelatter, and trigger mechanism operable from the exterior of the machineto load said spring and thereby render it effective to actuate thefeeding means and when fully loaded to release lt. Y

12. A manifold writing device for issuingv4 tickets comprising a ticketstrip supply magazine adapted to accommodate a supply of at least twosuperimposed ticket strips, means normally inaccesible from the exteriorof the device for feeding forwardly from the" supply of strip at leastone ticket length of each strip at each actuation of the device, aspring-loaded trigger .operated driving mechanism for said feeding meansoperable from the exterior of the device, and means for feeding theleading end of at least one of the superimposed strips to the exteriorof the device and at least one to the interior of the device, upon eachactuation of the feeding means.

13. A strip ticket issuing machinecomprising a ticket strip supplymagazine adapted to accommodate a supply of at least one ticket strip, afeeding device for the strip normally inacces- 35 sible from theexterior of the machine and provided with means arranged to engage withperforations in the strip so as to feed said strip forwardly at leastone ticket length upon each actuation of the machine, and yieldinglycon- 70 trolled trigger operated driving mechanism for said feedingdevice operable *from the exterior of the machine.

14. A strip ticket issuing machine comprising a ticket strip supplymagazine adapted to accom- 75 modate a supply of at least one ticketstrip, a

feeding device for the strip normally inaccessible from the exterior ofthe'machine and provided with means arranged to engage with perforationsin the strip so as to feedl said strip forwardly at least one ticketlength upon each actuation of the machine, a normally ineffective springmeans operatively connecting the spring to the vfeeding device toactuate the latter, and trigger mechanism operable from the exterior ofthe machine to load said spring and thereby render it effective toactuate the feeding device and when fully loaded to release it. y

i 15.A A manifold writing device for issuing tickets comprising a ticketstrip supply magazine adapted to accommodate a supply of at least twosuperimposed ticket strips, a feeding mechanism for the strip normallyinaccessible from the exterior of the device and provided with meansarranged to engage with perforations in the strips so as to feed each ofsaid strips forwardly at least one ticket length upon each actuation ofthe device, a spring loaded trigger operated driving mechanism for saidfeeding mechanism operable from the exterior of the device, and meansfor feeding the leading end of at least one of the superimposed stripsto the exterior of the device and at least one to the interior, uponeach actuation of the feeding mechanism.

16. A strip ticket issuing machine comprising a ticket strip supplymagazine adapted to\ accommodate a supply of at least one ticket strip,a feeding device for the strip normally inaccessible from the exteriorof the machine and provided with means arranged to engage withperforations in the strip so as to feed said strip forwardly at leastonev ticket length upon each actuation of the machine, ayieldinglycontrolled mechanism arranged to actuate said feeding device and atrigger device operable from the exterior of the machine to load saidmechanism and then automatically release it for actuation of the feedingdevice.

17. A strip ticket issuing machine v comprising a ticket strip supplymagazine adapted 'to accommodate a supply of at least one ticket strip,a feeding device for the strip normally inaccessible from the exteriorof the machine and provided with means arranged to engage withperforatolls in the strip so as to feed said strip forwardly at leastoneticket length upon each actuation of the machine, a spring-loadedmechanism operable to actuate said feeding device, a

ltrigger. device manually operable from the exterior of -the machine formoving the said mechanism in one direction against the tension of itsloading spring, and means for automatically releasing the mechanismafter the trigger device has been operated a predetermined distancesolthat the said mechanism moves under the action of the spring in thereverse direction and thereby actuates the said feeding device. A

18. A strip ticket issuing machine comprising a ticket strip supplymagazine adapted to accommodate a supply of at least one ticket strip, afeeding device for the strip normally inaccessible from the exterior ofthe machine 'and provided with means arranged to engage withperforations in the strip so as to feed said strip forwardly 'at leastone ticket length upon each actuation of the machine, a pivoted lever,manual meansl accessible from the exterior of the machine for displacingsaid lever in one direction, a second lever, means operativelyconnecting the second lever to the feeding device so as to be capable ofoperating the same upon move- `cally releasing the second lever from thednt towards the end of the stroke of manual dllplacement thereof wherebyto cause the second lever to actuate the feeding device.

HORACE DRUBDON'D BLACK. CHRISTOPHER FREDERICK WEBB.

